BlakPAC is the leading organization in America uniting conservatives across ethnic lines because we know Conservative values matter more than racial differences. We champion the ideas that unite voters around a vision of keeping America Safe, securing the Second Amendment, reducing government. and upward mobility for all. This is why Conservatives turn to BlakPAC for expanding the voter base and electing candidates. Visit www.blakpac.com or call 888 654 4540

Friday, July 1, 2016

BlakPAC GOTV IN Action

As the election year intensifies,
conservative political action committee BlakPAC is urging black
candidates and voters to get more involved in the political process —
and give conservative candidates another look.

During the
group’s Juneteenth celebration earlier this week, attendees heard from
minority candidates (and a few caucasian ones) running for office
throughout the state as well as community leaders, all Republicans.

“We
have to begin to have people who represent constituencies,” said Sheila
Scott-Griffin, chairman of the Pinellas Suncoast Black Republican Club,
who ran for St. Petersburg City Council in 2015. “If you don't have
people out of communities, you don't have people who understand...It’s
not good enough to keep jumping into races and come out with 3 to 10
percent [of the vote]. We need to take you over the margin and make sure
you’re going to win. BlakPAC is committed to that.”

Some candidates explained why they’re running despite hardships they face.
“No
one in my immediate family has ever run for public office,” said Tallie
Gainer III, who is running for Leon County School Board's District 4
seat. “For me to go to a black family who may be a part of my
constituency or a white family who's in transition, and ask for a
donation when I know they need diapers, that's conflicting for me. Those
with the affluence have more disposable income.”

Other candidates
emphasized that minority communities need alternatives to current
elected officials, new leaders who in their view will do what’s best for
the community at large.

“We need elected leaders, not
politicians, who have the humility to see that the job gets done in the
best interest of our communities and not in the best interest of what
lays ahead for their next campaign,” said Tim Schock, who is running for
Hillsborough County Commission, District 6 in a Republican primary
against Jim Norman.

Other candidates that attended and spoke at
BlakPAC's event include Christine Quinn, Republican challenger to U.S.
Rep. Kathy Castor, a popular Tampa Democrat who comfortably holds her
Congressional District 14 seat; Dwight Young, a Republican running for
U.S. Senate in a primary that includes incumbent Marco Rubio and
self-funded newcomer Carlos Beruff; and, Todd Jones for property
appraiser.

With November being right around the corner, election
season — both locally and nationally — is heating up as candidates seek
support and funding to ultimately win.

However, BlakPAC chairman
George Farrell says presidential candidates have to learn from what
happened with 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his
inability to secure the minority vote.
Presumptive GOP
presidential nominee Donald Trump, of course, does very poorly among
minorities — much more so than Romney. On Wednesday, a Quinnipiac University poll showed that Trump has support from one percent of
black voters. That, obviously, could be problematic for black
conservatives who are trying to convince minority communities to vote
the conservative ticket.

Florida's African-American voters are overwhelmingly registered as Democrats,
but there are only 60,000 black Republicans. Farrell said 2016 is the
year to win hearts and minds of millions of people who typically don't
vote Republican, partly by reflecting diversity among the candidates
themselves.
“When I look at a campaign, I look to see if they have
blacks on their staff,” Farrell said. “If I don't see a lot of
diversity in the campaign—Republican or Democrat—I will talk to the
candidate and say, 'Look, I think you need a little bit more diversity.'
I think if Donald Trump actually brings more diversity at the top of
his campaign, he could probably hit 20 to 25 percent [of the black
vote].
Meanwhile, Trump's campaign staff is mostly caucasian.

“If he doesn't hire black leaders to his campaign now, it's not going to happen after the presidency,” Farrell said.

On
the other hand, that means more people of color and minority
communities have to get involved in politics and voting to truly have
influence over elections, Gainer said.

“I
know many black candidates or black individuals that have beautiful and
powerful views on how we can make this world a better place,” Gainer
said. “Unless we get involved in the political process, these views are
oftentimes unheard.”